The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-27
L1pPrNcoTss DUEL WITH TEvIs.
a Deadly Encounter that Marked the
Anti-Slavery Struggle in California.


From the Chicago Tribune.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL, Sept. l9.-The recent
death of Gen Charles f. Lippincott calls
to the mind of one of his old friends and
acquaintance here the story of his duel III
California with Robert Tevis in 1856 Lip
pincott, then practising physician, went
to California in 1852 for his health, expect
ing to remain a year. About this time
that State was convulsed with the slavery
agitation. DR.. Lippincott was born aud
reared an Gnti-slavery Democrat, and his
father took an active part in the struggle
in Illinois which prevented slavery from
being foisted upon the State. In the Cali
fornla agitation the young Hiiuo!san allied
himself with the wing of the party which
was led by David G. Roderick, and opposed
the scheme to carry a majority of the Leg
isature in favor of a Convention for revis-
ing the Constitution in favor of slavery. In
this contest he found himself elected to
the State Senate in 1854 for two years.
In that capacity he assisted to elect Rod
erick to the United States Senate in 1856.
Lippincott was located in Yuba comfy,
probably at Marysville. As the Fourth of
July approached in 1856 arrangements
were being made for its celebration,
and it seemed to be important
to avoid any factional discussion. Robert
Tevis was a bright young man. and init
mated his desire to make a speech at the
celebration. Lippincott thought it would
be unsafe to select Tevis, and, consequently,
managed to have him put on the pro-
gramme to read the Declaration of indie
pendence. Tevis feigned satisfaction with
this arrangement; but when he had finished
the reading he volunteered few extempo-
raneous remarks upon the matter read, and
from these branched out into a general
speech, and occupied the stand for nearly
two hours.
Lippincott had control of corner of the
local newspaper at that time, devoting his
space chiefly to the PRONUNCIATION of the
opinions held by the Broderick Democrats,
and in the next issue of the paper he passed
some rather sharp criticisms upon Tevis'
speech and the manner in which he had
managed TO ring it in on the audience
against the will of the committee of ar
rangements. This fired Tevis, and he
sent Lippincott challenge to figlft duel
The latter knew that to decline a challenge
in those days in California was equivalent
to accepting notice to leave the country.
Accordingly he accepted. 1t does not APP
pear now just how shotguns loaded with
buckshot happened to be selected as the
weapons, but they were. Lippincott was
an excellent shot, but Tevis devoted him
self to pcacti ig and acquired very deadly
ann DeIOfe Tue uay Oh Une encounter arrived.
The duel was fought near what is known as
OuSley's Bar, at q distance of forty yards
The guns were discharged simultaneously,
and Tevis fell shot through the breast, ex-
piring in a short time. One of the buck
shot from Tevis's gun carried away lock
of Lippincott's hair just over the right ear.
Lippincott remained in California till
some time the next winter, when he left,
went to Washington city to see Brodericll
IL l IL
State Tevis was related to the Tevises of
Bond county, ILL.,, now a prominent family.
Gen. Lippincott, not long before his death,
referred to this duel as one of the horrible
things in his life, adding: But there was
nothing to do in tho &c days.in California but
to accept a challenge if it was sent to you or
to skip out of the country by the shortest
route and the most expeditions means"